Tsunami-Animal People Alliance (TAPA) Team

TAPA's Field Clinic Team — Field and Support Roles

Dr. Damitha Mapitiya

Vet, Deputy Team Leader, & Finance Manager

Dr. Manjula Jaysinghe

Vet & Field Team Leader

Dr. Dinesh Wellawa

Vet & Education Manager

Sanjeewa Kotuwegedara

Van Driver & Animal Handler
(Logistics)

Sumith Bandara

Vet Tech
(Reporting & HR)

R.M.A. Rathnayaka

Animal Handler
(Education)

Sahan Kumara

Vet Tech
(Finance)

Susantha Priyankara

Animal Handler
(Purchasing)

Sampath Senevirathna

Animal Handler
(Logistics)

Dushmantha Sirimewan

Clinic Assistant
(Finance)

TAPA's Board of Directors

Mr. Senaka S. Kotagama (Sri Lankan), Chairperson and well-respected Sri Lankan businessman with a special interest in animal welfare.


Dr. Subash Dananjaya (Sri Lankan), TAPA's founding Chief Veterinary Surgeon, field clinic manager and team leader.


Dr. Shalika Perera (Sri Lankan), Board Secretary.
Dr. Perera joined the TAPA Field Team as a veterinary surgeon in 2005, and subsequently served as Team Leader and Manager of Field Clinic and Finance during 2007 and 2008.


Dr. Thusira Soorasena (Sri Lankan) joined TAPA in 2006 as a Veterinary Surgeon, and served as TAPA Team Leader and Field Clinic Manager from 2008-2010. Dr. Thusira is presently pursuing legal studies with an emphasis on criminal law.


Dr. Roshan Fernandopulle (Sri Lankan) joined TAPA in 2007 as a Veterinary Surgeon, and served as TAPA Team Leader and Field Clinic Manager from 2010-2011. Dr. Roshan is presently pursuing graduate studies in Aquaculture. Dr. Roshan promotes dog adoption through the Four Paws Welfare Trust in Negombo.


Ms. Sherry Grant (American), co-founded TAPA, as well as earlier co-founding the Yudisthira Foundation (the Bali Street Dog Programme). Ms. Grant has extensive experience in animal welfare in Asia and was the inspiration behind establishing TAPA and providing visionary direction.


Ms. Dawn Peacock (British), Vice-Chairperson, is an animal welfare specialist with extensive experience in Asia. Ms. Peacock was instrumental in transferring procedures, processes, and lessons learned to TAPA from Yudisthira Foundation (the Bali Street Dog Program) and assisting in field operations and research.


Dr. Elaine Ong (Australian), is a veterinary surgeon who owns an Australian Small Animal Veterinary Association Accredited Hospital of Excellence in Melbourne and is a Faculty Member and Academic Associate of the University of Melbourne. Dr. Ong has experience in developing countries, including working as a volunteer vet in Sri Lanka sterilising dogs in the tsunami refugee camps, providing in-situ training, and now serves as TAPA Coordinator of Volunteers.


Mr. Robert Blumberg (American), Board Treasurer, was an engineer resident in Sri Lanka at the time of the Tsunami. He helped form the Tsunami People-Animal Welfare Coalition to provide the initial response in Sri Lanka immediately after the tsunami, and he then co-founded TMAWT/TAPA and helps administer its operations.